• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 17, 2021

New Show ‘The Activist’ Reformatted Following Backlash From Social Media

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Actress Priyanka Chopra is the latest Hollywood star who apologized for having her name tied to the upcoming show “The Activist”.

In a statement Chopra posted on Twitter Thursday, the Quantico star admitted that despite having a concept centered on philanthropy, “The Activist” still “got it wrong.”

“I have been moved by the power of your voices over the past week,” Chopra wrote. “The show got it wrong, and I’m sorry that my participation in it disappointed many of you.”

pic.twitter.com/pGcBC2G9zf

— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 16, 2021

Chopra’s apology comes one day after actress Julianne Hough released her own statement claiming she was “deeply listening” to the public scrutiny regarding the concept for “The Activist”

“The Activist” is a forthcoming CBS series where six activists from around the world come together “to bring meaningful change to one of three urgent universal causes: health, education and the environment,” the network states.

“The activists will compete in missions, media stunts, digital campaigns and community events.”

But following the public response, Hough admitted the show’s concept served more like a “performative, promoted pseudo-activism over real activism, felt tone-deaf, like Black Mirror, The Hunger Games, and that the hosts weren’t qualified to assess activism because we are celebrities and not activists.”

She went on to agree that she is “not qualified to act as a judge.”

 

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A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough)

Now after getting schooled on social media from two A-list celebrities who separated themselves from the project, Live Nation, Global Citizen and CBS released a statement announcing that “The Activist” would be reformatted as a one-time documentary special telling the stories of those working towards social justice, Yahoo reports.

“It will showcase the tireless work of six activists and the impact they have advocating for causes they deeply believe in,” the statement read. “Each activist will be awarded a cash grant for the organization of their choice, as was planned for the original show.”

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 17, 2021

R. Kelly’s Former Executive Assistant Breaks Her Silence In First Tell-All Interview

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Diana Copeland worked alongside R. Kelly for 15 years as his executive assistant. Now as the disgraced singer is forced to relive accounts of his decades-long abuse allegations in a sex trafficking trial, Copeland is breaking her silence.

Copeland testified against R. Kelly earlier this week and opened up in an interview with Good Morning America on Friday. She said she never saw any of the abuse go down firsthand, she was able to recall all of his live-in girlfriends and how they weren’t allowed to move around the house.

“He would have live-in girlfriends; they had their own rooms,” she said. “In those properties there was like, a certain decorum. That was expected.”

“Nobody is able to roam,” Copeland clarified. “As far as like in their room, I don’t know that they had to ask permission to leave.”

Copeland also revealed another house rule that required everyone to knock on the wall when entering a space to announce themselves.

“He said, ‘Listen, I have people in my house 24 hours a day … I have workers in my house 24 hours a day,” she said. “The least that everybody can do is just knock to let me know you’re there.”

During her court testimony, Copeland admitted to R. Kelly’s girlfriends acting weirdly to being around other men.

“They asked me during the trial, did you notice their reaction with males. I did — they didn’t want to speak to males, in fact they would ask me to speak to the males,” Copeland said. “I don’t know if they were told. You can pretty much surmise that was pretty much the case.”

She recalled having to call multiple Ubers for the women if the driver happened to be male.

“Robert eventually realized that Uber drivers, you can’t pick their gender, so he eventually stopped asking about that,” she revealed.

Kelly is currently on trial in Brooklyn, NY for allegedly running a nationwide criminal enterprise where he allegedly paid employees to help him lure women, girls, and boys for him to sexually abuse, NY Post reports.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 17, 2021

Black-Owned Tennessee Hoagy Shop Takes Customers Back to The 90s

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Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagy is changing Tennessee’s sub sandwich scene one bite at a time.

Started by founder Tiffany Pauldon-Banks, the Chicago native sought to create an eatery experience that pays homage to her hometown and the era that raised her. With hoagy’s (sometimes spelled hoagie) being a staple in Chicago, Pauldron-Banks saw an opportunity to fill a gap by combining good food with 90s nostalgia.

“I was born in the 80s but raised in the 90s! It was the absolute best time in life – the style, the music, the television sitcoms all made the 90s such a unique era,” told Travel Noire.

“It was so full of life and color, so I figured why not recreate that and share that dope 90s experience with our guests. Our goal is to make our customers instantly feel good with the bright-colored walls, bomb 90s music, and the best sandwich in the city!”

One look at their Instagram page and it’s clear that Lil Mama’s is all about building with their community. With an innovative brick-and-mortar, passion for investing in creatives, and taking part in local contests to grow their business, Lil Mama’s is making lasting moves to ensure they stand the test of time.

“Lil Mama’s is changing the game because we’ve created a customer experience that takes our customers back to some of the best times in life,” Pauldon-Banks.

“We were intentional when creating Lil Mama’s. We wanted to create a nostalgic experience that guests would not forget. The sandwich game needed a change, and that’s exactly what we are doing!”

The restaurant does catering, hosts events for parties of up to 25 people, and recently upgraded its menu to include a Cali Turkey Club Wrap, more beverage options, and new community pop-ups.

Opened on Tuesday – Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Lil Mama’s gets creative when finding new ways to connect with their local community.

 

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A post shared by Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagy (@lilmamaschistylehoagy)

With a mindset of mentorship, leadership, and building within the community, Lil Mama’s has created an infectious culture all from the mind of a passionate Black business owner.

“Our goal is to continue to build a brand that makes our city proud,” Pauldon-Banks said. “We have invested in our employees in order to build leaders who will grow within our organization, but also set an example in the community. Our goal will always be to highlight and support Black excellence. We plan to expand to other cities in the southeast,”

Florida A&M University is among the highest-ranked public universities in the nation. The historically Black university received its new rank in the recently released “Best Colleges 2022” guidebook by U.S. News & World Report.

The guidebook, published Monday, revealed that FAMU moved up 13 spots from no. 117 to no. 104 in the overall ranking. The Tallahassee-based university remains the top-ranked HBCU—among public HBCUs only—for the third year in a row.

In last year’s book, FAMU and North Carolina A&T University tied for seventh place in the Top 10 HBCU category which includes both public and private institutions. This year, FAMU holds the no. 7 spot followed by Greensboro-based NCAT ranked at no. 8.

In total, the guidebook reviews 392 institutions; of those schools 179 are private and four are for-profit offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

“Moving up 13 places is a testament to our focus on student success and the dedication of our faculty, staff and students to the tenets of our strategic plan, FAMU Rising,” FAMU President Larry Robinson, said in a release, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “Our intentionality and teamwork allow us to focus acutely on opportunities and more effectively address challenges.”

The University hosted a celebration of the rankings during a public event Wednesday at its Lawson Center.

Some of the main focuses for the school’s current five-year plan—spanning from 2017 to 2022—includes improving retention, six-year graduation rates, expanding faculty research options, improving infrastructure, and customer service, according to US World News and World Report.

A few years into its plan, which is currently being updated, and FAMU is already seeing considerable improvement.

The average GPA for admitted students increased from 3.74 to 3.8 in 2020. The university also increased its overall points gained in achieving metrics set by the Board of Governors. This year,  the school went up from 73 in 2020 to 79 in 2021, marking its highest increase in history.

As a reward, FAMU will see $12.65 million investment from the state along with $14 million from its own investment, totaling to $26.7 million in performance-based funding.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 17, 2021

Two Former Cops Sue Tennessee Police Department for Racist Intimidation and Bullying

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Two former Nashville cops are suing the Millersville Police Department for the racially motivated bullying and intimidation they say they were subjected to.

Robert Black and former Sergeant Josh Barnes sued the city, assistant chief Dustin Carr, and Police Chief Mark Palmer for forcing them right out of their jobs through a series of intimidation tactics, NewsChannel5 reports. But instead of just focusing on their encounters of mistreatment, the lawsuit points to the police department’s cover-up on systemic racism and corruption.

Black, who is white with a biracial son, and Barnes, who is Black, say they have witnessed the officers repeatedly using the n-word. Black would often get made fun of over his biracial son and says things got worse following the murder of George Floyd. Black claims the police chief referred to the protestors as “animals” and warned of what would happen if a protest came to Millersville.

“This is not about me getting back at anybody or seeking revenge,” Black said. “This is purely about standing up for what’s right morally and ethically.”

Barnes claims the police chief subjected him to extremely racist treatment. In addition to referring to Black people as “n—–s,” “monkeys,” and “animals,” the lawsuit also says Palmer accused Barnes of “always want[ing] to get some fried chicken and watermelon,” Daily Beast reports.

Things became suspicious in August 2020 when Carr became the subject of an investigation for domestic abuse against his wife, WSMV reports. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation on Carr. Both Black and Barnes claim Carr and Palmer pressured the Millersville department not to cooperate with the TBI investigation.

“Chief Palmer berated Barnes about the ‘thin blue line,’ and the need to cover for other officers,” the lawsuit claims.

This is the second lawsuit against Millersville PD over their alleged racist behavior. In 2015, two former Black cops who had previously been the Nashville department’s only Black officers sued Palmer and the city for alleged racial discrimination.

Black is hopeful the lawsuit will clear his name and allow him to return to a career in policing.

“I tried to do my job. I tried to learn, I tried to do the right thing,” he said. “It seems like if you’re a good guy in this type of work and you’re willing to do the right thing—it’s almost like if you don’t toe the line, you’re going to be dealt with, one way or another. And if you do toe the line, you’re going to be living with the moral conflict of doing things you may not agree with.”

The global beauty industry is almost a half trillion-dollar business.

But for Black beauty consumers, finding the right foundation shade can feel rather taxing for companies that don’t realize that Black people’s skin comes in a variety of hues. It’s evident that the beauty industry still has far to go when it comes to inclusivity and diverse representation in the Black community.

For Chyna Russell, that call to action has become her life’s mission. The Dollhouse Cosmetics founder is committed to empowering women of color to create their own beauty businesses.

BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Russell who shares how she turned her passion for inclusion into a successful empire and gives advice on getting ahead of the competition in the beauty industry.

BE: What was the “Aha Moment” that led to the idea for your current company Dollhouse Cosmetics? Can you share that story with us?

RUSSELL: My aha moment came while working for other major cosmetic companies. I quickly realized that I wasn’t seeing women that looked like me in this field. I also wasn’t experiencing an environment where Black women were catered to. All I would see in reality was numbers. Truth be told, the numbers were being falsely reported. It would always say the numbers aren’t showing that Black women spend money on makeup and I knew that wasn’t true. The truth was these companies didn’t see the relevance in having a market for us. Once this reality set in, I said, ‘I’m going to do more research then get my money right and solve the problem.’ The solution and my goal were always and will be to have Black-owned businesses cater to women that look like me. Dollhouse cosmetics is dedicated to always serving women who look like me!

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

The top three skills of entrepreneurs I would say are:

1. Being able to strategize
2. Remain humble with the ability to continuously learn
3. Never lose your ambition and self-confidence

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are?

I would have to say my mother is my angel on earth. I can honestly say that that without her prayers and grace I wouldn’t be able to even think I could pull it off. Even with her not being an entrepreneur, she still allowed me to dream. Being allowed to dream is a level of freedom that I’m beyond grateful for. I always encourage parents to allow their children to dream because just with that they will truly believe anything is possible.

The global beauty industry today has grown to more than a half a trillion-dollar business. Can you tell us about the innovations that you are bringing to the industry? How do you think that will help people?

What I’m bringing to the beauty industry is acknowledging the lack of knowledge we have. I’m providing opportunities for women like me to learn about what a woman of color as a consumer needs and wants. My cosmetics completely caters to women of color and provides them systems that will be effective, affordable, and [are] still luxury. This is important because women play many role—from a stay-at-home mom to a party girl. No matter which type of woman you are, Dollhouse Cosmetics Flawless Face Kit will be a hit each time.

As an expert in the beauty industry, can you share the top three beauty tips that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”?

I wholeheartedly believe that feeling beautiful is something that us as women have to learn to do from the inside out. The tips I would share to help with feeling beautiful would be:

1. Always having a high level of self-motivation, passion, tenacity
2. Have knowledge within the business and learn as you grow
3. Confidently have the ability to network as it can create your net worth and having a vision

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the beauty industry?

I would tell someone who is entering the beauty industry to ask themselves: what problem can you solve? Because solving a problem with a solution will keep you current. It will also keep you booked and busy. It’s important to study your competition because that will keep you on your toes. Competition can make you grind harder so it’s always necessary. And remember fear is a part of the process. Honestly, being afraid to start something new is a part of the journey. Use fear as your fuel and keep your foot on the gas!

To learn more about Dollhouse Cosmetics visit www.TheDollHouseCosmetics.com

• Business

by Alexa Imani Spencer

September 17, 2021

Meet Renaldo Webb, Founder of PetPlate, the Fresh Dog Food Delivery Company

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Renaldo Webb changed the culture of the pet food industry when he launched PetPlate, a subscription-based fresh dog food company that delivers human-grade meals directly to dog owners’ doors.

Webb founded the company in 2016, launched nationally the following year, and has seen major success since.

It all started when he began making meals for his pups in his home kitchen.

Webb was a consultant prior to starting PetPlate. He had a few pet food manufacturers as clients at the time, giving him an inside look into the doggy food world.

“Given I was an operations consultant, I spent most of my time on the factory floor, and I saw all of the ingredients used for making pet food,” he tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Seeing these ingredients and processes used to make commercial dog food first hand, made it an easy decision for me to start cooking for my dogs.”

Once Webb began cooking for his dogs, he quickly noticed a shift in their health.

“My first dog had a very sensitive stomach, and was a picky eater as he would get sick from traditional dog food. However the first meals I made for him were a hit, and dramatically improved his digestive issues. I also found a sense of pride, knowing that I was doing everything in my power to help improve his health and wellbeing. Seeing the benefits of fresh human-grade dog food in my own life then gave me the confidence to launch PetPlate,” he says.

Webb rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He founded PetPlate and landed a spot on Shark Tank the same year. Though he didn’t receive any deals on the show, he was invited to return to share business updates.

PetPlate has become widely respected as the pioneer in fresh-cooked pet food and recently began selling products in 100 Pet Supplies Plus stores across the nation.

“Accessibility is one of our company’s missions, and allowing pet parents to buy PetPlate in their neighborhood pet food stores is an important way to increase brand awareness and give our customers more purchasing options,” Webb says about the recent expansion.

In July, the company partnered with Paramount Pictures to celebrate the launch of PAW Patrol: The Movie. The partnership included PetPlate’s food delivered to dog families in boxes themed after the movie and a sweepstakes for pet parents to win a private hometown screening and concession for the film.

With all of the company’s expansion and success, Webb says he’s “humbled and blessed” to have the opportunity to launch and grow PetPlate while making great friends and colleagues along the way.

“I believed deeply from my own experiences there was demand for PetPlate, and it has been rewarding to see the impact we’ve had on the lives of tens of thousands of pet parents across the U.S. There is still more work to be done, but I feel fortunate for what we’ve accomplished to date.”

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 17, 2021

Florida Widow Believes Her Dead Husband Caught COVID From Their Kid’s Sleepover

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A Florida widow is speaking out after recently losing her husband to COVID-19. Sherica Dalloo, 32, believes her husband contracted the virus through a child that came to their kid’s sleepover.

“Our family has changed forever,” Dalloo told CBS12. “I’m a widow, with four children that I have to raise, and my youngest is three.”

David Dalloo, 33, passed away from COVID in August after being hospitalized at JFK Medical Center in Boynton Beach. The father of four worked remotely to protect himself and his family from the virus. But in the end, his efforts weren’t enough.

“Someone came to our home that was COVID positive. It actually was a child that brought it into our home,” Dalloo said.

Sherica Dalloo believes it was a 9-year-old child who visited for a sleepover and had no symptoms unknowingly passed along the virus. The entire family tested positive shortly after, but David Dalloo was the only one who didn’t make it, Palm Beach Post reports.

“It was just like surreal,” she said. “He had to have surgeries, he had artificial lungs, he had to go on dialysis, he was in an induced coma.”

Now Dalloo is practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, and any other measures she can take to protect her family from catching the virus again. She also encourages children eligible for the vaccine to get vaccinated.

“I make sure, if we know people are coming, I say, ‘Kids, put your mask on’. Right now, everyone is visiting you and want to see if you’re okay,” Dalloo said.

“You guys have to be safe, at the end of the day, I don’t want you guys to end up in the hospital or pass it on to another relative, maybe older, and something like this happens to them.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page asking for support amid the loss of David Dalloo.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 17, 2021

After Investigating Elijah McClain’s Death, Colorado AG Determines Racially Biased Policing

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The investigation into the death of a Black man who was killed by suburban Denver police officers has revealed a police department’s ugly, racist history.

On Wednesday, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said that the Aurora Police Department has a long culture in which police officers treat people of color, specifically Black people, differently than white people. He found that the agency also has a pattern of using unlawful excessive force; frequently escalates encounters with civilians, and fails to properly document police interactions with residents.

After the police killing of Elijah McClain, 23, who was placed in a chokehold two years ago in Denver, the attorney general launched an investigation into the Aurora Police Department.

Aurora police Chief Vanessa Wilson released a written statement:

“Today is incredibly difficult for not only the Aurora community but this agency. We acknowledge there are changes to be made. We will not broad brush this agency or discount the professionalism and integrity that individual officers bring to our community every day. I am proud to say the Aurora Police Department began the implementation of many changes over the last 21 months, while this and other investigations were ongoing. Those changes have improved overall policing, de-escalation training, community outreach, and engagement. I have and continue to hold officers accountable as evidenced by my recent disciplinary actions, which are supported by many officers in the department who are proud to wear our badge.”

Earlier this year, an independent investigation in Colorado pertaining to McClain’s death determined that the Aurora police officers involved had no justification to stop McClain or to use force against him.

McClain left a corner store after buying iced tea in Aurora the night of Aug. 24, 2019. McClain was wearing a ski mask due to a blood disorder that made him cold. The three officers were responding to a report of someone wearing a ski mask and waving his arms.

Bodycam footage showed the cops ordering McClain to stop. McClain responded by telling the officer he was an introvert and asked the officers to respect his boundaries. Police eventually grabbed and threw McClain to the ground as one cop believed McClain was carrying a holstered weapon.

A struggle ensued, and officers rendered a chokehold on McClain, which, according to NBC News, restricts blood to the brain to make a person lose consciousness. The paramedics were called to the scene and injected McClain with ketamine to sedate him.

Less than 10 minutes later, McClain was found to have no pulse and went into cardiac arrest, according to a report released in 2019 from local prosecutor Dave Young. Medics revived McClain, but he was declared brain dead and taken off life support a week later.

Two weeks ago, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that two police officers, a former officer, and two paramedics will face charges in the death of McClain.

• Women

by Derek Major

September 17, 2021

New York Attorney General Letitia James Mulling Run For Governor

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Brian Schwartz of CNBC reports that New York Attorney General Letitia James has held discussions with advisors and supporters about a potential run for governor next year.

Since James’ investigation into former governor Andrew Cuomo ended early last month, she and her political advisors have begun exploring whether she would have the support of previous donors and supporters if she chooses to run for governor instead of re-running for attorney general.

James has gained significant name recognition in recent years. In addition to the investigation into Cuomo, which spurred his resignation, she has battled with the National Rifle Association, preventing it from dissolving the corporation in New York to avoid litigation

James has also joined the investigation into the criminal inquiry into the Trump Organization which focuses on a litany of financial crimes, including tax evasion and bank fraud.

The Howard University graduate hasn’t quite made up her mind yet. For starters, running in the Democratic Primary would mean giving up her job as attorney general and walking away from the Trump investigation, which she’s been the face of over the last year. Also, the acting governor, Kathy Hochul, said she would run and has already built a solid foundation, picking up top donors in the state.

Other potential candidates include outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Jumaane Williams.

According to CNBC, some people in political circles have already started manning the phones on James’ behalf.

Luis Miranda Jr., a political consultant and the father of playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, has also been making calls to gauge support for a potential run for governor. Miranda has also been linked to the Senate campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand.

A poll conducted by Data For Progress shows James in the lead as a preferred primary candidate ahead of Hochul.